Dehumidifying apparatus



July 9, 1946. T. K. TAFT 2,403,880

DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS k Filed April 5 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 7710/14/13 K. DPT

A 7' TOR/VEX Juiy 9, 1946. T. 'K. TAFT 0 DEHUMIDIFYING' APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1944, 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS K. TAFT BY I ATTOR/VfX Patented July 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Thomas K. Taft, Cornwall, N. Y.

Application April 5, 1944, Serial No. 529,641

12 Claims. 1

The invention relates to dehumidifying apparatus of the type suitable for providing a conditioned atmosphere or for preventing or minimizing condensation of atmospheric moisture in enclosed spaces such as cellars, basements, and other rooms, record and storage vaults, stockrooms, closets, food establishments, workshops, etc.

It has for an object to provide an apparatus of this nature which will be of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, and which may be readily dismantled to provide a compact assemblyfor shipment or storage.

Another object is to provide a construction which will admit of a plurality of containers being loaded conveniently and without danger of spilling the deliquescent material utilized therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which willadmit of retaining a maximum amount of the'deliquescent material and present a maximum surface thereof for absorbing moisture; also, a construction which will promote circulation over the said deliquescent material, for examplaof ambient air to be dehydrated.

A still further object of the invention is to so mount the material-retaining portion of the apparatus with respect to a receptacle for the solution resulting from absorbed moisture by the deliquescent material that the said material-retaining portion will .be properly located with respect thereto when the apparatus is assembled, and will allow also of convenient removal of the solution from the receptacle.

The invention has for an object, also, a novel form of container for deliquescent material, to provide means for properly supporting the same and to allow of readily removing containers from their supporting means.

In carrying out the invention, the novel apparatus provides a suspension member for foraminous containers for the deliquescent material whereby said material may conveniently be loaded into the respective containers without spillage, said suspension member to this end comprising a disk or tray having spoke members radiating from a central or hub portion to afford intermediate apertures. In these apertures are hung the various containers which depend from between the spokes thereof, as by means of rigid frame portions at their suspension ends, which portions are designed, for example, to fit into recesses or grooves formed along the edges of the corresponding apertures. A rim member is provided about the perimeterof the tray, projecting above its surface so that the material will not spill over the outer edge of the tray when being loaded into the respective containers depending from the surface. The tray is provided, furthermore, with a central opening designed to receive a stack to induce circulation of the ambient air through the apparatus, which is practically entirely open beneath the tray between the containers, being supported merely by a pluralit of uprights such as rods or the like. These rods are positioned in such a manner, also, that they will serve to locate properly the material-bearing portion with respect to a receptacle above which the saidportion will thereby be mounted, and which receptacle is designed to receive the solution of the deliquescent material as the same is consumed. The containers for the deliquescent material are preferably constructed of metal mesh but may be constructed of fabric of the desired mesh, in which case provision is also made for holding-the containers taut.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the apparatus with the receptacle for receiving solution shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the lamp indicated in Fig. I removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4---'i, Fig. 3 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of several metal foraminous containers, and illustrates the manner of mounting the same in a supporting tray therefor Fig. 6 illustrates, in vertical section, a modified form of the apparatus, designed to accommodate foraminous containers of cloth or fabric.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 'i?, Fig. 6 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of several containers of the fabric type, and illustrates the manner of mounting the same in a supporting tray therefor and of maintaining said containers taut.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view further illustrating the manner of suspending a fabric con tainer from the tray.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, iii designates a receptacle of suitable capacity and shape, in the instant embodiment provided with flaring mouth, said receptacle receiving the solution resulting from moisture absorbed by the deliquescent material utilized in the apparatus. An outlet faucet Hi may be provided at the bottom of receptacle II) for withdrawal of the solution therein from time to time, as required.

Or, due to the novel construction of the dehumidifying apparatus, the latter may, in the smaller capacities, conveniently be bodily withdrawn temporarily from the receptacle for emptying of the latter.

The tray H of the dehumidifying apparatus is designed for suspension of a plurality of foraminous containers l2 which may be removable therefrom, as hereinafter set forth. To this end, the tray is formed of spoke members i3 which radiate from a central portion or hub l4 to provide intermediate apertures I5, the aforesaid containers depending from the tray between the spokes thereof in said apertures. In the particular circular embodiment of the tray shown, the containers will therefore be of angular conformation and are arranged circularly completely around the tray with their upper ends substantially flush with the surface of said tray. This facilitates loading of the containers with the deliquescent material, for example, calcium chloride flakes; and, to insure against spillage of material over the circumference of the tray, there is provided over the perimeter of the same a rim 16 which projects a distance above the upper surface of the tray sufficient to properly retain thereon the material being dumped into the containers.

For promoting circulation of th ambient air, the hub. 14 is provided preferably with an opening I! located centrally in the hub of the tray and there is then introduced into said opening a stack member [8 which not only prevents spillage of material through the opening, but enhances circulation of the ambient atmosphere through the apparatus and over the material retained in the containers suspended from tray II. The circulation may be further enhanced by suspending a lighted electric lamp [9 at the upper portion of the stack, as shown in Fig. 1.

When these individual containers are of foraminous metal, for example, galvanized wire screen of the required mesh, they are of sufficient rigidity to maintain their normal shape under load, and are then conveniently suspended from the edges of an aperture through the provision, for example, of a stiff wire frame 20 to which their upper edges are attached as by $01.- dering or welding said edges thereto, or by crimping the edges thereover. With material having a selvaged edge, the wire may be omitted. This frame then fits into lateral recesses or grooves 2| along the side and inner end ed es of an aperture, thus mounting the upper ends of the containers substantially flush with the upper surface of tray H. Each container may, also, be readily removed from its support by lifting the same through the corresponding aperture.

The entire dehumidifying apparatus hereinbefore described is conveniently mounted in position over the receptacle H! by an open framing such, for example, as the plurality of vertically disposed rods 25 whose upper ends are secured, preferably removably, in corresponding spokes l3. The location of the said rods 25 is substantially at the circumference of the tray 1 I, and their spacing is such as to correspond to the vertices of an equilateral triangle for engagement at their bottom ends with the bottom of th side walls of the tapered receptacle l0 when resting on the bottom of said receptacle. Their length is such, moreover, that the bottom of the containers will be properly located relative to the receptacle, for example, to lie substantially in the plane of the mouth of said receptacle, whereby solution dripping from these containers will be caught in the receptacle.

When the containers are of cloth or fabric of the required mesh, a slightly different provision is made in the suspension of the same in order to maintain them in taut condition. Thus, reference being had to Figs. 6 to 9, the containers 30, which are located between the spokes 31 of a tray 32, as in the previously described embodiment, carry at their respective bottoms blocks 33 of wood or similar material not only to stretch the containers but to provide for attachment of the same to a frame member 34, as by means of screws 35 passing through the respective blocks. This frame 34 is adjustably mounted to slide longitudinally on the supporting rods 36 for the dehumidifying apparatus, being locked thereto in adjusted position as by means of thumb screws 37 or the like to maintain at all times the containers in extended condition. Their upper ends are mounted similarly to the previously described containers through a wire frame 40 attached to an upper end of a container and seated in recesses or grooves 4| along. the sides and inner end of an aperture. However, the wires in this instance are more or less resilient and their outer and opposite ends are crossed at the outer end of an aperture and. are made of sufiicient length to overhang the sides of such aperture at the outer end thereof. This affords support at the said outer end of an aperture and permits also of lifting out a container, after first withdrawing screw 35, in applying manually pressure thereon to collapse the frame 40.

The arrangements for supporting containers as hereinbefore described, for example over a receptacle, allow of ready dismantling and packing of the dehumidifier apparatus in the said receptacle, for shipping or for storing the same. Thus, if the rods supporting the tray for the container be withdrawn from said tray in which they have merely a friction fit, the said tray with containers may be set within the receptacle which is of a height to accommodate the containers and tray and at its mouth of a diameter to receive the withdrawn rods which may be placed over the tray. The stack may be pushed inwardly or removed and located beneath the tray centrally of the containers. A suitable cover (not shown) placed over the top of the receptacle will then seal the apparatus in the receptacle. Or, if no moisture-receiving receptacle is to be provided, a suitable carton or box will accommodate both the tray with containers and the supporting rods.

I claim:

1. In dehumidifying apparatus: a suspension member comprising a top tray to receive dehydrating material, said tray affording spoke mem-- bers radiating from a central hub to afford intermediate delivery apertures, and a plurality of foraminous containers depending from edges of the spoke members of the tray to receive the dehydrating material,

2. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein an opening is provided in the hub.

3. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein an opening i provided in the hub and a stack member extends upwardly from said opening.

4. In dehumidifying apparatus; a suspension member comprising a circular top tray to receive dehydrating material, said tray affording spoke members radiating from a central hub to afford intermediate delivery apertures, the hub being provided with a circular opening, and a plurality of foraminous containers depending from edges of the spoke members of the tray to receive the dehydrating material.

5. Dehumidifying apparatus, comprising a radially apertured disk to receive dehydrating material, open support means therefor, a rim about the perimeter of the disk projecting above its surface, and a plurality of foraminous containers depending from edges of the disk apertures to receive the dehydrating material.

6. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rim is provided about the perimeter of the tray and projects above its surface.

'7. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are of foraminous metal each having an upper rigid frame element designed to seat in the upper surface of the apertured tray.

8. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are of foraminous metal each having an upper rigid frame element designed to seat in the upper surface of the apertured tray in recesses provided along edges of an aperture.

9. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are cloth bags having upper resilient and lower rigid frame elements secured to their tops and bottoms respectively, said upper frame elements being designed to seat in the upper surface of the apertured. tray.

10. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are cloth bags having upper resilient and lower rigid frame elements secured to their tops and bottoms respectively, said upper frame elements being designed to seat in the upper surface of the apertured tray, said resilient frame elements being of spring wire and having separated and crossed free ends which are adapted to rest upon the upper surfaces of the apertured tray upon opposite sides of the corresponding aperture for the suspended container.

11. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are flexible cloth bags supported from the upper surface of the apertured tray, and rigid members are retained in the bottom of the respective bags, and a rigid frame common to all of the bags is provided below the same and secured to the respective rigid members of the bags for maintaining said bags taut.

12. The dehumidifying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containers are flexible cloth bags supported from the upper surface of the apertured tray, and rigid members are retained in the bottom of the respective bags, a rigid frame common to all of the bags is located below the same and the respective rigid members of the bags are secured thereto for maintaining the said bags taut, and the tray is supported on a plurality of rods, together with the frame for maintaining the cloth bags taut, the said frame being slidable longitudinally on the rods.

THOMAS K. TAFT. 

